DVD Re-writer where to start

Superman

I want to buy a DVD re-writer but Im not really sure where to start. I want to get something decent that will be able to record to a good standard relatively quickly.

Would it also be advisable to buy an external memory drive?

JimArnold

to be honest there's not a lot to choose between the internal drives IMHO.
You want a +R/-R dual layer one - most of them are now. Not that you'll be using dual layer at the current price for disks - but it helps to keep you future proof. Similarly with speed; 32x sounds fast but the fastest economical disks are 8x at the moment
Pick a reliable supplier eg Novatech and get a tub of 50 8x own brand disks while you are at it
Look for one that comes with decent software (Nero is my choice)

I'd avoid an external one unless you really need the portability in which case USB2 is essential, the IDE internal ones are easy to install - even if you've never done it before. Setup is important it will run best as a master on it's own cable

pardal51

Superman wrote:

I want to buy a DVD re-writer but Im not really sure where to start. I want to get something decent that will be able to record to a good standard relatively quickly.

Would it also be advisable to buy an external memory drive?

Have a look at this.

this model supports RAM as well.

good shopping...

:xmassign:

Superman

I have got a compaq computer, it should be compatible shouldnt it?
Also can the DVD drive just sit separately or would I replace the existing DVD drive?

pardal51

Superman wrote:

I have got a compaq computer, it should be compatible shouldnt it?
Also can the DVD drive just sit separately or would I replace the existing DVD drive?

They are IDE drives, so will definetelly be compatible. You can add the DVD RW drive as a second drive, therefore you don't need to replace your existing DVD drive.

Hope this helps!!!

Mark_LJ

Have a look at the today only deals at Scan - a range of deals on most makes (and includes lightscribe) - personally like the LG drives as they work to all media including RAM. The current deals also include pens and media.

I'm currently using an LG, HP (lightscribe), Plextor, Lite-on and NEC DVD writers on different machines. I'd rate the Plextor highest, but thats probably due to the excellent software as much as anything (expensive though). Value for money I think the LG take some beating.

Alfie_E

Superman wrote:

I want to buy a DVD re-writer but Im not really sure where to start. I want to get something decent that will be able to record to a good standard relatively quickly.

If you’re concerned about the standard of the CDs or DVDs produced, have a look at CDRinfo. Their reviews cover this, along with more detailed information than you might find healthy. It’s probably best to just look at the conclusions page for the one sentence summaries for a drive’s ability to read damaged media and for writing errors.

Superman wrote:

I have got a compaq computer, it should be compatible shouldnt it?

For internal drives, they only question of compatibility would be that you can get Serial ATA DVD drives. Unless your computer’s motherboard provides Serial ATA, don’t get one of those. If you get an IDE/ATAPI drive, it’ll work irrespective.

esuhl

I did some research on DVD drives recently. It seems that there's an awful lot of choice, but very little difference in specifications and performance between them.

In the end I went for the Pioneer DVR-110 (not to be confused with other very similarly numbered models) as it's reasonably cheap and can handle dual/double layer DVDs, as well as DVD-RAMs (which are more expensive to buy, but are supposedly more reliable for data backups and last longer than DVD+/-R discs). The only negative point is that it's not the absolute fastest on the market, but there's not much of an improvement in faster models.

One feature you might like to consider (though I don't rate it) is Lightscribe, which can "burn" a black-and-white image onto the label side of compatible DVDs. Both the drive and Lightscribe DVDs are more expensive, though.

Also, many drives are sold as OEM (no manual, cable, screws, box or software), so you'll need to a separate codec (software COder/DECoder) to watch DVD films. Due to licensing, you supposedly can't get these for free (but most boxed DVD drives would include a codec and other software, or you might be able to get one somewhere else - the one I use came free with my video card).

feival

esuhl wrote:

Also, many drives are sold as OEM (no manual, cable, screws, box or software), so you'll need to a separate codec (software COder/DECoder) to watch DVD films. Due to licensing, you supposedly can't get these for free (but most boxed DVD drives would include a codec and other software, or you might be able to get one somewhere else - the one I use came free with my video card).

Does that mean if you are not replacing an existing drive you will need to buy a cable and screws? I presme seperately these are about £5 plus p&p?

Alfie_E

The only way you’re going to know exactly what you’ll need is to look inside the case.

Screws. A modern Compaq computer may well include the necessary extra screws. These will be screwed to the inside of the case. They should be near to any extra slide rails, if you need rails. There should be two sorts – one for an extra hard disk and one for other sorts of drives. If you only have one sort, you need to determine what they’re for. Hard disk screws have a 6-32 thread, which is quite widely-spaced for the size of the screw. Other sorts of drive use screws with an M3 thread, which are finer and closer together.

Power cable. Your computer should have plenty of extra power plugs. If it doesn’t, you’ll need a power cable splitter.

Data cable. The following assumes you have a computer that doesn’t have Serial ATA. There are two sockets on the mother board for plugging in IDE data cables. These are called the Primary and Secondary. Your hard disk will be attached to the Primary one. Each socket can have up to two drives attached to it. Cables can be either for only one drive or up to two drives. If the cable is for up to two drives, it will have a third plug somewhere between the two at each end. You’ll probably find that both cables in your computer have the extra plug along their length. This should be fine for plugging in an extra DVD drive. However, IDE cables come in different lengths and can have their middle plug anywhere from right near one end to somewhere in the middle. You need to imagine which bay you’re going to put your extra drive in and whether the cabling is going to reach both drives.

You could just attach the new and old DVD drives to the Secondary cable – the same one as your current DVD drive would have been attached to, when it left the factory. However, if you were intending ever to duplicate discs directly from one DVD drive to the other, I’d move the DVD drive you want to copy from (presumably the old DVD drive) to the Primary cable, where the hard disk is. But, I wouldn’t recommend copying this way – it’s always better to copy via the hard disc.

brummybloke

esuhl wrote:

I did some research on DVD drives recently. It seems that there's an awful lot of choice, but very little difference in specifications and performance between them.

In the end I went for the Pioneer DVR-110 (not to be confused with other very similarly numbered models) as it's reasonably cheap and can handle dual/double layer DVDs, as well as DVD-RAMs (which are more expensive to buy, but are supposedly more reliable for data backups and last longer than DVD+/-R discs). The only negative point is that it's not the absolute fastest on the market, but there's not much of an improvement in faster models.

One feature you might like to consider (though I don't rate it) is Lightscribe, which can "burn" a black-and-white image onto the label side of compatible DVDs. Both the drive and Lightscribe DVDs are more expensive, though.

Also, many drives are sold as OEM (no manual, cable, screws, box or software), so you'll need to a separate codec (software COder/DECoder) to watch DVD films. Due to licensing, you supposedly can't get these for free (but most boxed DVD drives would include a codec and other software, or you might be able to get one somewhere else - the one I use came free with my video card).

dont forget , you will need to upgrade your aspi if using nero and other copying programs, this dvdr doesnt support nero without it. ( well it didnt a month ago when i got a new one.